The Ryder Cup, traditional meeting between the United States and Europe, which takes place from Friday to Sunday on the golf Medinah Country Club in Chicago Illinois, takes place according to a different formula in tournaments on the circuit, the "match play". The two teams compete in 28 games. The winner of each match is determined by the number of holes won and not of strokes as in conventional tests. There are three types of matches, fourball (Friday and Saturday morning, 8 in total), the foursome (Friday and Saturday afternoon, 8 in total) and simple (Sunday, 12 total):

. THE FOURBALL: two teams of two players. Everyone plays his ball (four in all). The player who finishes a hole in the fewest strokes saves point for his team. No points scored in a tie.

. THE FOURSOME: two teams of two players, only two bullets in. The players play alternately the ball for their team. The team that finishes the hole in the fewest strokes wins the point. No points scored in a tie.

. THE SIMPLE between two players on the same principle. The captains of both teams rank their players 1 to 12. This order determines the opposition.

In fourball and foursome as simple, when a pair or a player gains a lead in points than the number of holes remaining, he wins the match and scores a point for his team. In case of a tie at the end of 18 holes, both teams score half a point each.